# Lock Notes vs MemoTaro

The clearest difference is monetization model: MemoTaro at free with in-app purchases against Lock Notes's subscription. MemoTaro also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4). Lock Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (138 vs 13). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lock Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and MemoTaro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MemoTaro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lock Notes has 138 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, MemoTaro every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lock Notes | MemoTaro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686/reviews) | **[4.9 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memotaro/id1242201182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **138** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 23 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LYKOV STUDIO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783754094) | [Masashi Sasaoka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1124773279) |

## What reviewers say

### Lock Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686)

Securely store private thoughts, passwords, and reminders with biometric authentication. Enjoy a simple, elegant interface with iCloud sync, customizable themes, and backup options. Your data remains private and encrypted.

**Highlights:** Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID), Encrypted note storage, iCloud sync across devices, Customizable themes and dark mode, Backup and restore functionality, Ad-free minimalist interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Disable ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


### MemoTaro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memotaro/id1242201182)

Securely store your notes with a password lock and biometric authentication. Easily organize, edit, and share your memos with intuitive drag-and-drop and swipe gestures. Find information quickly with powerful search and customize your viewing experience with font settings.

**Highlights:** Password lock with Touch ID/Face ID, Drag-and-drop memo organization, Swipe to delete notes, Direct sharing to messages, mail, social media, Memo search and character search, Customizable font size and color

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lock Notes free?

Lock Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MemoTaro free?

MemoTaro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lock Notes or MemoTaro?

MemoTaro is rated higher. Lock Notes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while MemoTaro averages 4.9 from 13 ratings.

### Do Lock Notes or MemoTaro have ads?

MemoTaro shows ads; Lock Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or MemoTaro?

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and MemoTaro every 9 days. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on October 14, 2026 and MemoTaro on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*